Taylor-made win for Crusaders

The Crusaders claimed back-to-back victories in Super Rugby as they got the better of the Melbourne Rebels in a 25-19 result on Friday.

The Crusaders sealed back-to-back wins in Super Rugby as they got the better of the Melbourne Rebels in a 25-19 result at AAMI Park on Friday.

Kieran Read's outfit will treasure this, not least because they entered the game having lost eight of their last eleven away trips in the competition.

Much like last week's win over the Stormers, it wasn't pretty as it took 55 minutes before the game's first try was claimed by Ben Funnell.

But either side of that the assured goal-kicking of Tom Taylor ultimately proved to be the difference as his 20-point haul lifts his side up the Super Rugby standings going into their bye week.

The game as a spectacle was far from thrilling as Jason Woodward and Taylor's boot dominated the first-half, with the interval scoreline being 12-9 in favour of the Crusaders after few opportunities.

But after the break the Crusaders moved up a gear and when the ball was shifted out to the right wing, captain Read drew the last man before finding hooker Funnell for the easy run-in. Taylor's conversion made it 22-12.

Taylor then added his seventh successful kick of the day on 69 minutes as the match looked to have been settled. However, the Rebels showed fight as flank Scott Fuglistaller went over off the back of a maul to give them slim hope with a minute left. It proved false.